Paracetamol and N-acetylcysteine

Vivian Imbriotis | June 21, 2026

Pharmaceutics

  • Tablets, syrup, suppositories, IV (glass vial + argon, unstable in O2)


A: 80% OBA. Peak effect at 1 hour.

D: Vd 1L/kg, 20% protein bound. Penetrates BBB easily.

M: 100% hepatically metabolized. HER 0.3

  • 95% conjugated with glucuronyl or sulfyl groups (saturatable)
  • 5% via CYP2E1 \(\xrightarrow{\text{generates superoxide}}\)NAPQI\(\xrightarrow{+\text{glutathione}}\)inert. In overdose, conjugating pathway is saturated and glutathione exhausted \(\to\) NAPQI accumulation.
  • Superoxide leads to hepatocellular injury (centrilobular necrosis)
  • NAPQI uncouples oxidative phosphorylation \(\to\) histotoxic hypoxia, type B lactic acidosis

E: metabolites eliminated in urine.

  • NAPQI also nephrotoxic \(\because\) depletes renal glutathione

MoA:

  • Analgesia: Unclear mechanism. COX3 inhibition in CNS may contribute. Indirect endocannabinoid agonist. May directly inhibit transient receptor potential channels in nociceptors.
  • Antipyresis: Inhibition of PGE2 in thalamus
  • Hypotension: Mannitol excipient \(\to\) osmotic diuresis


N-acetylcysteine (antidote)

  • Precursor to glutathione
  • Replenishes glutathione stores \(\to\) inactivates NAPQI
  • 150mg/kg load \(\to\) infusion to maintain adequate glutathione
  • T1/2 = 5 hours